The best beaches on Kefalonia

Kefalonia has numerous beautiful beaches. This guide is a selection of the most scenic and worth visiting beaches on the Island with a short description, some useful information on services and sports offered as well. Enjoy!

Around Agia Efimia and Sami

Agia Efimia

Surrounding Agia Efimia there are numerous idyllic white pebble coves. Especially by west wind, the little bays offer clear and calm waters, ideal for swimming and snorkelling. Across the water, you can see Ithaca and on some days you can even make out the mountains of Patras.

Agia Sofia & Gorgota Beach

A scenic drive from Agia Efimia and the village Komitata (between Agia Efimia and Fiskardo) will bring you to the deserted pebble bays of Agia Sofia and Gorgota. The idyllic beaches are set in a picturesque scenery, often used as inspiration for local painters.

Food: a small canteen in Agia Sofia beach operating in the high season

Facilities: no beach facilities

Sports: no water sports on duty

Suitable for children: not suitable for children

Antisamos Beach

Antisamos is a spectacular and sheltered beach with emerald green waters in a picturesque setting, nearby Sami. The calm and crystal sea is great for swimming and snorkelling. However, the beach becomes quite crowded during the high season (July & August).

Myrtos Beach

Myrtos is the most famous and most impressive beach of Kefalonia. The views from above towards Myrtos beach with its turquoise water and white sand are breathtaking: a must for everyone!

Beach: a mix of sand and pebble; water becomes deep abruptly

Waters: clear waters; big waves by north-west wind

Food: canteen

Facilities: sun umbrellas, sun beds, showers, toilets

Sports: no water sports on duty

Suitable for children: please be aware that this bay has a steep drop into the sea resulting in variable currents, and deep waters

Fiskardo Peninsula

Alaties Beach & Agia Ierousalim

The two peaceful and sheltered bays are located at the west part of the Island. Alaties is a very tiny idyllic cove surrounded by smooth rock platforms, good for sunbathe. A friendly tavern is just some steps from the beach. Ierousalim is a secluded bay, 2 km further south of Alaties nearby a campsite with a tavern on the beach side. Both beaches are not very well known, thus good spots for relaxing and enjoying peace and tranquillity, even in the high season.

Assos

The little beach in the scenic village Assos may not invite for a long stay. But, the scenery of the picturesque village with its traditional houses and the Venetian castle is fabulous. If you enjoy walking, a walk to the old fort is well worth while.

Dafnoudi Beach

Dafnoudi is a secluded, idyllic cove at the north part of the Island (nearby Fiskardo) with stunning views over the Island of Lefkada. The beach is accessible by 15 min-walk through a shady gorge at the end of the village Antipata (Erissou). Track shoes are recommended.

Emblissi Beach

A lovely shingle beach surrounded by smooth rock platforms suitable for sunbathing, with crystal clear waters and stunning views over the Island of Lefkada. After a warm and lazy beach day, take a coffee in the picturesque harbour of Fiskardo (10 min drive).

Foki Beach

A delightful bay with sheltered, crystal clear waters, ideal for swimming and relaxing under the natural shade of ancient olive trees. You can have lunch or some refreshments either in the tavern nearby the beach or in Fiskardo (15 min walk from the bay).

Lixouri Peninsula

Agia Kyriaki Beach

Little known rustic beach experience, a taste of Greek beach life that has remained unchanged for generations. Highly recommended: A lunch of locally caught fish and own naturally cultivated food products at the tavern on the harbour front, where the little boats come and go throughout day.

Beach: a mix of sand and pebble; water gets deeper gently

Waters: clear waters except when there is a strong north-west wind

Food: fish tavern in Zola-harbour and canteen in the beach side

Facilities: some thatched umbrellas and sun beds

Sports: no water sports on duty

Suitable for children: very good suitable for little ones

Petani Beach

A "little Myrtos beach", visited mostly by Greeks. The views from above towards the beach with its turquoise - cobalt blue water and white sand are breathtaking. A worth visiting beach to spend a warm and lazy day. The first tavern is low priced and offers good Kefalonian food.

Beach: a mix of sand and pebble; water gets deeper gently

Waters: clear waters; big waves by west wind

Food: 2 taverns (first one recommended)

Facilities: sun umbrellas and sun beds

Sports: no water sports on duty

Suitable for children: suitable for children

Porto Atheras

A little known, secluded beach at a sheltered bay in the north part of the Lixouri Peninsula, with a rustic tavern above the beach. A good spot for those who love traditional Greek flavour.

Beach: sandy beach; shallow water shelves down very gently

Waters: crystal clear waters

Food: 2 rustic taverns (recommended the one above the beach)

Facilities: no beach facilities

Sports: no water sports on duty

Suitable for children: very good suitable for children

Vatsa Beach

The perfect place to relax! A peaceful and sheltered bay with a rustic beach-side tavern offering freshly caught fish and fresh local products (highly recommended!). When you visit Vatsa beach, take time and explore the natural beauty of the Lixouri Peninsula and the monastery of Kipouria with breathtaking views across the Ionian Sea.

Beach: sandy beach; shallow water shelves down very gently

Waters: crystal clear waters

Food: picturesque tavern with thatched roof, built on the sand

Facilities: some thatched umbrellas

Sports: no water sports on duty

Suitable for children: very good suitable for children

Xi Beach

Xi is a very popular and well organized beach, on the southern part of the Lixouri Peninsula. It is famous due to its unique reddish sandy colour. The beach is long but not really wide, thus it gets a bit crowded in the high season.

Beach: sandy beach; shallow water shelves down very gently

Waters: clear waters, quite waved when west-north wind

Food: beach bar offering light meals, mini market

Facilities: sun umbrellas, sun beds, showers

Sports: a variety of water sports offered

Suitable for children: yes, very good suitable for children

South Coast

Kalami Beach

The little known, sheltered cove Kalamia is a good alternative to the popular and highly frequented main beaches of Lassi. Here you can relax and swim in clear and calm waters.

Beach: sand, shallow water shelves down very gently

Waters: clear waters

Food: little canteen

Facilities: some sun umbrellas and sun beds

Sports: no water sports on duty

Suitable for children: good suitable for children

Katelios Beach

The long sandy beach of Katelios is a quiet and relaxed spot in the south of Kefalonia. There is a good choice of fish taverns inviting for lunch or dinner.

Beach: sandy beach with some grassy parts; shallow water shelves down very gently

Waters: clear waters

Food: plenty of fish taverns, bars and cafés at the beachfront

Facilities: sun umbrellas and sun beds

Sports: no water sports on duty

Suitable for children: very good suitable for children

Makris Gialos

A very popular beach with shiny fine sand, situated in Lassi, the most touristic developed area of the Island. The beach is very well organized but a bit tiny and gets crowded in the high season.

Beach: fine golden sand; shallow water shelves down very gently

Waters: clear waters

Food: taverns, beach bars and cafés

Facilities: sun umbrellas and sun beds and showers

Sports: all kind of water sports offered

Suitable for children: very good suitable for little ones

Platis Gialos

Platis Gialos is a smaller beach, situated just next to Makris Gialos. The two beaches are divided by some rocks. The beach is accessible through the main entrance (free) of the Hotel White Rocks. Maybe this is the reason, why it is substantially less frequented as its neighbour beach. However, with the same clean and safe waters.

Beach: fine golden sand; shallow water shelves down very gently

Waters: clear waters

Food: canteen

Facilities: sun umbrellas, sun beds, showers, changing cubicles

Sports: all kind of water sports offered in the neighbour beach Makris Gialos

Suitable for children: yes, very good suitable for little ones

Porto Cheli

Porto Cheli or Ai Chelis is a sheltered little bay with fine, grey coloured sand, embedded in a hilly landscape with some exclusive holiday villas in the south of the island. Highly recommended: a visit after the beach in the capital of the Island, Argostoli.

Skala Beach

Skala offers a delightful long sandy beach with crystal clear waters and lovely views across the blue Ionian Sea towards the mainland. The well-organized beach gets frequented in the high season; however, on its long stretch there is always plenty of space for everyone.